Pro-cycling thread

And there was zero chance of a stage win. The break was well gone.

But he knew he needed to pull his finger out for my fantasy team.

Chest-thumping management techniques.

You lose authority if you’re constantly waving a stick but not providing next year’s carrot.

Still doesn’t reflect well on Almeida though.

This explains all!

Yeah, exactly.

Almeida to Movistar makes so much sense.

Movistar

Everyone gets to be team leader all the time. Yay!

Today.

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I guess we’ll find out today whether Remco struggled because of the surface or whether he’s blown a gasket.

Soler abandons

James Knox seemed to indicate that Remco was uncomfortable because of the surface and the efforts required for all the DQS riders to keep closing the gap ruined them.

That’s the opposite of what Remco said to the press so hopefully they’ll have a tear up on the bus later.

Dowsett abandons.

Mader, Soler, De Marchi have also abandoned too. All caught up in early crash.

lots of abandons today

FTFY

Chris Horner in fine form, eviscerates Joanne Almeida:

FTFTFYFY

Chris Horner in fine form, eviscerates Joe-Alan Almeida:

opposite of what Remco said to the press

I heard an interview when he said that it was day 11 and he'd never gone so far in a race etc. The problem for Remco is that any time it went around corners quickly he seemed to lose the wheel in front of him. Just went back to watch and around when the pack started splitting, he looked like he was not happy at all on the bike especially compared to his usual confidence.

Lol.

Man eviscerates riders names on every episode. He’s fucking hopeless at it.

i can't tire of his Ee-gone Burr-nowl

Last time he went fast downhill in a race he fell off a bridge. He's got the yips.

Froome was terrible as a bike handler and turned it around so you’d think there’s no reason Remco can’t barring any long term psychological scars from his crash.

In the main yes. Ned Boulting is actually following the race and employed by the race organiser as I think the only English speaking official broadcaster.

Follow his podcast for this and other interesting insights

This interview from Dan Martin seems a bit strange. Was it not known well before that there was a gravel stage, and thus he was never going to be in GC contention with this mindset?

"I had guys crashing all around me on the first section [of gravel] so I just did my own pace, I nearly came back but my licence is road cycling so it's not my thing. Fair play to the guys who are at the front, but I just didn't want to take the risk today and that's it.

"The cycling fan in me thinks this is a beautiful stage but yeah it was on an unpredictable road surface and I don't have much experience on that particular terrain. No excuses just didn't feel like taking the risks."

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/dan-martin-says-cycling-is-not-worth-the-risk-after-losing-six-minutes-to-egan-bernal-on-gravel-of-giro-ditalia-2021